Friction draft-gear.



E. w, NEWELL. F'RcloN DRAFT GEAR. yAPPLICATIIIAH FILED FEI?. i7, |914.

mum .me 1,1915.

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@l W ww 2 i\ ww, m11 k /6 )5 /6 /f INVENTOR @www/WK@ WITNESSES E. W. NEWELL. n FmcTmN DRAFT GEAR. PPLICATIQN FILED FEB. 17| 19'141 Patented June 1, 1915.

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INVENTOH WI'TN ESSES mura erarnagrazr: 1

EDWARD W'. N EWELL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THE WESTING- HOUSE AIE BRAKE COMPANY, OF XVILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, .A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Lidihi.

v -FRICTION DRAFT-GEAR.

ratenteaaane i, rein.

Application filed February 17, 1914. Serial No. 819,184.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD W. NEWELL, a citizen of the -United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful improvements in Friction Draft- Gear, of'which the following is a specifica-lA tion.

While the desirability of employing fric-.

f tion draft gear on railway cars is now well recognized, there are still a very large'rnumber of cars in service which are equipped with spring draft gear, particularly of that type known as the tandem spring gear.

Many cars so equipped. are old types notv designed vtowithstand the shocks incident to modern service especially where heavy steel cars of large capacity are mixed inv trainswith the older cars. The spring draft gear not being effective in .absorbing such shocks, cars are continually being so damaged as to render'them unfit for service.

While the .ident remedy is to substitute a friction draft gear for the spring gear, it becomes a question of expense in apnlving sucha gear as compared with the'value and It will thus be evident that it is highly desirable to provide a lfrictionfdraft gear ,for

the above conditions which-may be cheaply constructed and easilv applied-with the least possible reconstruction of the exlsting mechanism and ythis is oney ofthe objects of vmy invention.

Anothenobject of myV invention is to provide a friction draft gear adapted to be applied on cars equipped .with the tandem springfgeanin -whichjmany parts of the old-spring gear-may be -utilized in the friction draftl gear wiithoutja-iteration.4

Another object ofiny invention is to pro videa'friction draft gear for replacing a tandem springl gear .in rwhich. theffriction l mechanisrninay e installed without taking up space' occupied bythe oldidnaft'springs.

l Another'object of my.inventionA is to provide a friction draft Sgoarspfqhghcapacity combined?! with a comparatively thigh rel lease.. y i L.,

Ami-,har ,@blect of my yneventumjs, isl-to ri vorganize-the old tandem spring draft gear by removing the old intermediate cross piece in the yoke and utilizing the space thus provided for friction elements.

Another-object of my invention is to provide a friction draft gear having facing central wedges adapted to engage the usual end followers, a friction element movable to compress :the` draft spring and .wedge blocks intermediate-the central wedges for transmitting pressure from one central wedge to the friction element.

In starting long trains or where cars are subjected to stresses'fuin quick succession, and also ywhere cars are bunched at the bottom ofgrades, it is highly desirable to have a moderately high release aswell as a high resisting capacity. y

Other objects and advantages of my invvention will be apparent in the following l normalv position; Fig. 2 a similar View, showing the parts in the positions assumed under stress; Fig. 3 a plan View thereof, partly in horizontal section; Fig. 4 a side elevation, partly in section, of a slightly vmodified form of friction draft gear em- .bodylng my yinvention and showing the parts infnormal position; Fig. 5 a similar view, showing the parts .in the positions assumed u nderstress; Fig. 6 a lan View thereof, partly in section; Fig. .a -transverse section on the line a-ct of Fig. `ll; Aand Fig. 8 a transversesection on the line .l2-b ,ofrigfa v The usual tandem springl gear employs -side plates 1-.1 secured to tliecar center sills and providedl at opposite ends with .stops 2-'2 for follower plates 3-3, and the usual yoke il, ysecured vto;the draw-bar 5, vincloses the gear. Centrally,the side plates "1-1 are .provided with'follovver stops 6-6 fforming a restricted throat within which, in the usual tandem draft gear, :an abutment .secured to the yoke Zlis mounted. f According to my invention, as 4shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3, in place of ,the usual inl' termediate follower ,-plates, combined 'folwwer plates and frictionzelements 7L-f7 are' rovided, each comprising aportion 8 of intermediate` follower plate las plunger the same1 thickness as the-'usual follower site inclined friction faces 10-#10 and in the space formed by said inclined faces and within the throat of the side plates 1-1 a're mounted wedge block elements, each preferably comprising a pair of friction` blocks 11 and 12,'and in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and-3, the block 11 has a recess for receiving a-projection 13 on the cooperating block 12.

Each of the friction blocks 11 and 12 provided with opposite inclined friction faces, the outer faces for engaging thefriction faces 10'-10 of the members 7-7 and the inner faces for engaging opposite inclined friction faces of opposing centrally arranged plunger wedges lll- 14.

Interposed between the front and rear followers 3-3 and the intermediate followers 7 are the usual draft gear springs 15 and 16, the smaller spring 16 being nested within the larger spring 15 in accordance with the usual'practice, but since the springs act together, they may for the purpose of this invention be treated as a unit. Each vwedge 14: is provided with a stem an a erture in the and adapted to contact with one of the outer follower plates 3--3.

Fig. 1 shows the parts 1n normal position, with the wedge blocks 11 and 12 in a central position.

Ifa buliing stress is applied to the drawbar, the follower plate 43 at the front is forced rearwardly and the vfront plunger wedge'l-l also moves rearwardly while the rear plunger wedge 1'1 is held stationary by contact with the rear follower plate 3. The wedge blocks 11 and 12 on opposite sides of the longitudinal aXis are thereupon forced longitudinally rearward and at the saine time-move out laterally.

In effect, the moving plunger wedge 14 forcesl each wedge block element diagonally 17 extending through through the parallel sided opening formed by the faces of the stationary member 7 .and the stationary member 14, against the resistance of the springs 15 and 16 acting on the other member 7.

In draft, the rear follower plate 3 moves forward, while the front follower plate 3 is held stationary by the usual stops 2 and the front plunger wedge is also stationary. As in the-case of buliing, the opposite pairs of wedge blocks 11 and 12 move longitudinally and laterally outward but in the opposite direction. The movement of the wedge blocks forces the forward intermediate follower plate 7 forward against the resistance of the forward draft springs 15 and 16.

The intermediate stops 6-6 are not necessary to the successful operation of the gear the movement ofthe gear, since at the start, the blocks 11 and 12 do not have full bearing contact with the friction faces of the intermediate follower platesv 7-7, while upon movement the blocks gradually move to a position in which the full area of the friction faces is in contact.

It will be noted that in buing one set of draft springs opposes the movement of the friction elements, while in draft the other set opposes movement and furthermore, the friction elements' are always interposed between the point of application of the stress and the set of draft springs in action, s'o that direct impact on the springs is prevented, thus tending to obviate breakageand weakness of springs.

Another featureof the present draft gear consists in providing a high release. Re-

ferring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that in the release movement, the forward draft springs act directly on the forward follower plate 3, so'that the full power of this set of springs is utilized to force the draw-bar and the coupler back to release position while the rear set of draft springs act on the rear intermediate follower 7 to force the wedge blocks back to normal position. As soon as the draw-har starts' to release, pressure is removed from the forward central plunger wedge 14 so that the same is free to fall back out of the way of the wedgeblocks`11 and 12 as said blocks are moved inwardly by the forward movement of the rear intermediate follower 7.

In release after a draft stress, the action will be the same, except in the reverse direction, the rear set of springs then acting to directly move the draw-bar to release position, while the forward set of springs act to move the friction elements back to release position. y

The opposing wedge blocks 11 and 12 are made with the plug and socket construction so that as the friction faces wear down the wear may be taken up by inserting a metal vwasher on the plug 13 between the blocks gear of substantially the same construction and operation as that shown in Figs'. l, 2, and 3' is illustrated, except that thel wedge blocks 11a are made with fiat intermediate engaging faces and afriction wear plate 20 is interposed laterally between the blocks. Since .the wedge blocks l1 and l2 move ylaterally upon the opposite surfaces of the friction plate 20 in the operation of the gear, it will be evident that the area of frictional surface in action is thereby in- .gear springshas a compressive movement equal to the movement of the draw-bar, and this isimportant for the following reasons: Draft gear in which the springs have' a compressive movement exceeding the drawbar movement' vrequire friction surfaces of greater extent by reason of the corresponding increased. movement of the friction ele ments'and such friction surfaces would be prohibitive on account.I of the limited space available inthe draft gear for the friction elements. Furthermore, longer springs would be necessary for a given draw-bar` l movement, which would -of course make fio `such a construction prohibitive as a substitute for the old spring gear. 0n the other hand, if the, compressive movement of the springs were lessthan the movement of the draw-bar, the vfull spring capacity of the draft springs would not be available. lt should therefore be particularly noted that the longitudinal movement of the moving plunger wedge let is 'thesame as the longitudinal movement of the moving follower plate 7. rIhisis due to the fact that stress is transmitted from the moving plunger wedge through substantially parallel friction facesfto' the moving follower plate.

Having now described my invention, what ll claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

l. In a friction gear, the combination of a resistance spring,.a friction element having oppositely inclined faces and movable in a direction to compress said springka centrally disposed wedge, another friction element having oppositely inclined faces but immovable inthe direction to compress said spring, a second central wedge facing opposite to the first,l and laterally and longitudinally movable wedge blocks interposed between the opposing inclined faces lof the central wedges and said friction elements, the

centrally disposed wedges being free from contact with said spring.

2. ln: a friction draft gear, the combination with a pair of oppositely disposed springs, of movable members arranged at the proximate ends of the-springs, each having oppositely inclined friction faces, plunger wedges arranged longitudinally within the springs and having oppositely disposed friction faces, and wedge blocks interposed between the movable members and plunger wedges and having oppositely disposed friction faces for engaging the friction faces .of said members and the friction faces of pll1nger wedges. i

'3. in a frictiongear, the combination 'of a i pair of resistance springs arranged in tandem., a pair of followers interposed between the proximate ends of said springs and each having oppositely vinclined friction' faces, a frame having stops engaging said followers .lnthe normal release position, a pair of oppositely facing central' wedges extending through the respective followers, and'later ally and longitudinally movable wedge blocks interposed between the opposing inclined faces of the central wedges and said followers.

4. In a friction draft gear', the combination with a pair of tandem springs anda follower plate at the remote ends of `the springs, of a plunger wedge arranged'longitudinally within each spring and adapted to engage with. the corresponding follower plate and each provided with friction faces at vthe proximate ends,`anrl friction elements having friction faces for engaging the friction faces of the plunger wedges, one plunl ger wedge being held stationary by engagement with the adjacent follower plate .under movement of the other plunger Wedge tllirough engagement with the other follower p ate.' .f

5. ln a'friction draft gear, the combination with springs arranged in longitudinal alinement, a follower plate at the opposite ends. of each spring, and side plates adapted to be secured to the car center sills and providedwvith stops for each of the-follower plates, of projections carried by the inner follower plates and extending .into the re` stricted space formed by the inner stops and provided vwith oppositely inclinedy friction faces and elements having friction faces adapted to engage the friction facesfof the inner follower plates.

6. In a friction draft gear,'the combination with oppositely disposed springs, a follower plate at the opposite ends of each spring, and side plates adapted to'lbesei cured to the car center. sills and-provided mii.-

with stops for each of the. follower plates',

of projections carried bythe inner follower plates and extending into the throat formed ist 5 by the corresponding outer follower plate and lprovided with' oppositely inclined fric- 1 tionI faces, and wedge blocks interposed between the plunger wedges and the inner follower plate and provided with friction faces adapted to coperate with the friction faces 10 of the inner follower plates andthe plunger wedges.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

, EDWARD W. NEWELL.

In presence of A. M. (LMENTS,

S. W. KEEFER. 

